Truss for inguinal hernia



Feb. 7, 1939. H. L.. ROE l TRUSS FOR INGUINAL HERNIA Filed May 29, 1936 Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED s'rri'rssv 2,146,444 TRUSS FOR INGUINAL HERNIA Hillman L. Roe,

Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Physicians & Hospitals Supply Company, Inc., Y Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 2.9,y

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a truss and particularly to a truss to be used for an inguinal hernia.

It is desirable that such a truss be so construct- -ed that there will be a positive retention of the hernia at all times regardless of the position assumed by the patient or wearer. This is particularly true when the'patientis taking the injection treatment for hernia. It is also desirable that free movement of the body of the wearer be permitted without disturbance of the truss. It is 'also a great desideratum that a truss be comfortable for the wearer.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a truss which is constructed and arranged to be very comfortable on the wearer and to provide for perfect retention of the hernia at all times.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a truss having a yielding pad adapted to fit Over the hernia or opening thereof, which pad is mounted upon an arm in relation to which it is longitudinally movable and also preferably rotatable.

It is another object of the invention to provide a truss having a substantially U-shaped member of seml-exible resilient material adapted to fit around one side of the body of the wearer, the same having an arm extending transversely thereof at its rear end withyielding pads mounted at its ends, which pads are preferably rotatable or arranged for universal movement, said arm preferably being S-shaped.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a truss having at one side a substantially U- shaped member of resilient semi-flexible material adapted to extend around one side of the body of the wearer, the same having a pad adjustably secured thereto at its front end and a pair of pads secured thereto at its rear end together with a strap or straps secured at the rear end of said member and extending around the other side of the body of the wearer to the front end of said member, another perineal strap also preferably being provided. f

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to similarrparts throughout the several views and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the truss;

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of a portion of the body of the wearer showing the truss in position thereon;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the Wearers body as 1936, Serial No. 82,487

-(Cl. 12S-95) seen from the side and rear position thereon;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 4`4 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5'is a horizontal section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view in rear elevation of the rear portion of the truss;

with the truss in Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 1-1 y of Fig. 8 as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken through the truss at a point approximately indicated by line 8--8 of Fig. '7 and seen as indicated by the arrows. Referring to the drawing, a truss is shown comprisingV a substantially U-shaped or semi-circular member I0. Member I0 is made of very refined metal, the same being resilient and yet being sufliciently flexible to be shaped to the contour of the body of the wearer. Member Il] is enclosed for substantially all of its length in a casing Il preferably made of leather or similar material and said casing also is arranged to extend beyond the sides of member I0 and to have a pad Ila formed at its inner side. At its'front end member I0 vhas an arm I2 secured thereto by rivets I3, which arm has a narrow neck portion adjacent the end of member ID and is then of greater width and of elongated elliptical form. Said arm has an elongated slot |2a extending longitudinally and centrally thereof and has at its terminal portion a strap-securing button I4 riveted thereto. A pad l5 is provided and while this pad might take various shapes, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as of general elliptical form or egg-shaped in plan and having a well rounded face |511. The main body of the pad is of considerable thickness and made of some yielding resilient material I5b. In practice resilient sponge rubber has been found to be very suitable. This sponge rubber is covered with a soft, smooth, flexible material I 5c and vWhile various materials might be used, in practice the finest quality of soft calfskin has been found to'be very suitable. A plate 15d of elliptical form engages the lower side of the material |517, the same having a circular opening I5dd therein. Alayer of fabric ma terial 15e extends over plate l5cZ and the edge oi.l the cover |50 extends over the fabric 15e and is securely stitched thereto by stitching I5cc. A piece of rather stiff exible material 15j, preferably of circular form and of smaller diameter than opening Idd, overlies fabric |51 opposite opening I5dd. A circular metal plate I5g overlies member lI5 and has a pair of tapped holes therein adjacent the ends of a diameter thereof. A

are spaced the same distance as the holes through plate I5y. A screw I6 having a slotted and rounded head, which is of greater diameter than the width of slot 12a, extends through said slot, through one hole in plate l5z, through the-opening in plate lh and is threaded into they tapped hole in plate |59. Another screw il-formed with n a button head for the attachment of a strap, which head is also slotted and of greater width than slot IZa, extends through said slot, through the other hole in plate .I 5i, through the opening in plate I5h and is threaded into the other tapped hole in plate 15g. With the above described construction it will be seen that if screws i5 and il are slightly loosened pad I5y can be rotated Vrelatively to arm I2. At this time plate 'ig is held stationary by screws I 6 and Il and said pad merely rotates with its plate I5h moving between plates I5g and |52' and guided somewhat by said screws engaging the edges of the opening through plate lh. It will also be seen that pad l 5 can be moved longitudinally vof arm I2,V screws i6 and Il sliding in slot I2a. When screws'I and Il are tightened plates Ig, I5z` and arm `Ii! are drawn together and pad I5 is held rigidly in position.

Member I0 at its rear end has an Aarm I8 extending transversely thereof. Member IEB extends -between arm I8 and a recessedV clip i319 secured to arm I 8. A screw i9 extends through clip Ib and arm Ill, being threaded into arm it. The ends of arm I8 are curvedto extend in opposite directions so that said arm as seen from the outer `side thereof is S-shaped and said arm throughout most of its length is enclosed in a covering 18a. of soft material, such as soft leather, 'I'he ends of arm I8 are apertured and each has a screw 24U extending therethrough and into a ball member 2l so that said ball member is secured at one side of arm I8. A pad 22 of circular form in plan has an interior lling '22a of Vsome soft yielding material, such as resilient sponge rubber, and has a plate 22h overlying the same formed with a semi-spherical socket portion at its center extending around ball member ZI. Another plate 23 is secured toplate 22h by the screws '24, having heads countersunk in plate 23 and through the bottom covering 22o of pad 22. Plate 23 holds mem-ber 22h and pad 22 in place on member 2'I so that said pad is swivelly or universally mounted on arm i3. The pad can therefore be rotated and also tipped in any direction. Pad 22 is provided with a soft, smooth, flexible cover 22d, similar to 4the cover i513, which is stitched to the cover 22e by stitching-25.

The outer ends of screws 2i) form holding means for the ends of a strap 2S. Said strap has eyelets 21 secured in spaced relation centrally thereof adjacent one end throughwhich screws ZI] extend. Strap 2'6 is folded intermediate its ends and a clip or buckle 28 is slidable on said strap and secured to the end of another strap 29. Strap 29 has holes or buttonholes 29a therethrough in spaced relation and these can be Vsecured "over the headof screw I7 to ,hold strap '29V in desired position. It will be seen that strap `small buckle 3Q thereon overlying the lower end of strap 3@ and a strap 35 forming a perineal 'strap i's provided with quite a number of holes 35a, any one of which may b-e engaged by buckle Sii. The other end vof strap 35 is provided with the buttonholesrb adapted to engage over the button iii on arm i2. The intermediate portion of strap 35 is covered with some soit material such-as chamois. The end of member between member H and arm HS' is preferably covered with a sheathing of soft material ma, such as rubber. 1

In operation, the truss in position on the wearer is located as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Member l5 is bent and flexed so as to snugly and nicely t around the side of the body of the wearer and so that pad iis brought over the Iupture'or hernia. This pad is shaped so as to fit comfortably in the inguen. The pad can be moved longitudinally of arm i2 or can be rotated as desired to bring it into comfortable and proper position. Member 5f can move somewhatrelatively to opening Hedel thus adding to the yielding capacity of the pad. Said member permits some movement of the sponge rubber into opening i'd, but also forms a limit for such movement. A very yielding structure is thus produced. The pads 272 are located on the upper hip of the wearer and act to hold the member l0 in position. These pads can move in various directions as required by the body movements without moving member Iii. These pads are ofiset laterally of the body by the S-shaped arm I8 and this disposition oiv the pads assists in holding member lil in its proper position. vThe maintenance of the padV l5 in desired position is further assured by the straps 26 and 2Q. These are adjusted as desired to snugly fit around the body by fastening the ends thereof in the proper adjusting holes. It is generally recognized that a truss pad for indirect inguinal hernia should be suiiiciently deep to make impression in the body. This has Ibeen accomplished by the special shaping of the pad l5 which has also been made to conform to the anatomical structure. The resilient member ii! enoircles only about one-third of the body, thus leaving by far the greater part ofthe body free from incumbrance. This is very desirable at all times but is especially important when the patient is lying down. In cases where the injection treatment is used the truss must be worn while the patient sleeps so that the above feature is important at such time. The perineal strap S5 may be used as desired and is desirable when the patient wears the truss during his sleeping hours. This strap gives further assurance that the pad i5 will ybe kept in proper position and will not be shifted by engaging portions of the bed when the patient moves about thereon. There can be a slight adjustment of arm I 8 about screw iS which gives further flexibility to the structure.

From the above description it is seen that plicanthas provided a simple and very efficient structure of truss and one which will assure' that the hernia willbe properly retained at all times. The truss is easily adjusted, very comfortable and can be placed to give thebest effects and be retained in this position. The metal partsV are nicely plated` and all parts are made quite rugged and durable. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to be very successful and encientand is being commercially made.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and deiined in the appended claims.

What is claimed isz- 1. A truss having in combination, a stili somewhat resilient substantially U-shaped member adapted to extend around the KVside of the body, said member having at its front end an arm extending at an angle thereto, an elliptical rounded pad mounted on said arm, a second arm secured at the rear end of said member extending transversely thereof,` a rotatable .substantially circularpadY at eachend of saidsecond arm.

fastening meansv on said first mentioned arm which said strap may be secured.

2. A truss having 'in combination, a stiff somewhat resilient substantially U-shaped member `adapted to extend around the side of the body, said member having at its front end an arm extending therefrom, an elliptical pad having a rounded yielding face adjustably mounted on said arm, a second arm secured intermediate its ends tothe rear end of said member, a substantially circular pad with a rounded yielding face universally mounted at each end of said second arm, a strap folded intermediate its ends and having its ends secured to the ends of said second arm, a second strap having means slidable on said rst mentioned strap and adapted to be secured to said first mentioned arm with said straps extending around the other side of the body.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2 and a third strap slidable on said first mentioned member and adjustably secured thereto adapted to extend between the legs and along the groin ci the wearer' and adapted to be secured to said rst mentioned arm at its other end.

4. A truss structure having in combination, a supporting arm, a pad having a body of soft yielding material of substantially elliptical forni, a soft flexible covering for said body, a plate at the rear of said pad having a central opening therethrough, a fabric cover overlying said plate and opening and secured to said covering, a substantially rigid member of smaller dimension than said opening engaging said cover over said opening, a metal plate overlying said member and means securing said metal plate and pad to said. arm whereby yielding movement is had when said pad is pressed toward said first mentioned plate.

5. A truss structure having in combination, a supporting arm, a pad having a body of soft yielding material of substantially elliptical form, a soft exible covering for the top and sides of said pad, a metal plate at the rear of said pad having a central opening therethrough, said covering overlying the edges of said plate, a fabric cover overlying said plate and secured atits edge to the edge of said covering, a substantially rigid member'of smaller dimension than said opening overlying said cover over said opening, a second metal plate overlying said member and engaging said covering adjacent its edge, means extending through said metal plate and cover into said first mentioned plate and securing said metal plate to said pad, a second'plate overlying said member and disposed between the same and said metal plate, said metal plate having a circular opening therethrough, a third plate overlying said metal plate and being of larger diameter than said opening therethrough, a pairl of spaced members extending through said arm, through said third plate and the opening in said metal plate and secured in said second plate, said pad and metal plate being rotatable between said second and third plates.

6. A truss structure having in combination, a supporting arm, a pad having a body of soft yielding material of substantially elliptical form, a softlexible covering for the top and sides-oi said pad, a plate at the rear of said pad having a circular opening therethrough, a pair of plates one at either side of said plate of larger diameter than said opening, spaced screws extending through said arm through the outer of said pair of plates, through said opening and into the inner of said pair of plates whereby said pad and first mentioned plate maybe rotated between said pair of plates or clamped in xed position by said screws.

. 7. A truss structure comprising an arm having an elongated slot extending longitudinally thereof, a pad having a rounded yielding face of flexible material, a substantially flat plate disposed at the rear of Asaid pad having a circular opening therethrough, a second plate Ibeneath said plate overlying said opening and of greater diameter than said opening, and rotatable beneath said iirst mentioned plate, a pair of spaced members extending through said slot and secured in spaced relation to said second plate extending through and being rotatable in said circular opening whereby said pad may be rotated relatively to of said plate and of greater diameter than saidv opening, a pair of spaced members extending through said slot, through one of said pair of plates and through said circular opening and secured in the inner one of said pair of plates whereby said pad and rst mentioned plate me" be rotated between said pair of plates, said pad and members may be moved longitudinally of' said slot and said pad may be clamped in fixed position.

9. A truss structure having in combination, a supporting arm having a slot extending longitudinally therein, a pad having a body of soft yielding material of substantially elliptical form, a soft exible covering for the top and sides of said pad, a metal plate at the rear of said pad having a central opening therethrough, said covering overlying the edges of said plate, a rfabric cover Voverlying said plate `and secured at its edge to the edge of said covering, a substantially rigid .member of smaller dimension than said opening overlying said cover over said opening, a second 'metal plate overlying said member, a third metal plate overlying said second plate and having a circular aperture therethrough of smaller diameter than the transverse dimension of said second plate, a fourth metal plate overlying said third plate and aperture and of greater transverse dimension than the diameter of said aperture, spaced screws extending through said slot, through said fourth plate and said aperture and threaded into said second plate the remote sides of said screws being spaced substantially the distance of the diameter of said aperture, whereby said pad may be rotated and moved longitudinally of said arm and clamped in iixed position thereon. y

10. A truss structure having in combination, a supporting arm having a slot extending longitudinally therein, a pad having a body of soft yielding material of substantially elliptical form, a plate in the rear of said pad the rear edge of said pad extending over the edge of said plate, a second plate at the rear of said pad secured to said rst mentioned plate and having a central opening therethrough, plates disposed at either side of said last mentioned plate and of greater diameter than the diameter of said opening, a pair of screws extending through said slot in said supporting arm and extending into said pair of plates and through said opening substantially at the sides of said lopening Vwhereby said pad and said ,second plate may be rotated between said pair of plates and said pad may be adjusted longitudinally of said slot by loosening said screws and may be held in position in said slot.

11. A truss having in combination, a stiff some what resilient substantially U-shaped member adapted to extend around one side of the body, said member having at its front end an arm eX- tending therefrom, an elliptical pad having a rounded yielding face adjustably mounted on said arm, a second arm secured intermediate its ends to the rear yend of said member and extending transversely of and to either side of said member, a strap folded intermediate its ends to form a bight and having its ends pivotally secured to the ends of said second arm, a second strap having means slidable on said first mentioned strap but located at and adapted to pull upon said bight and adapted to be secured to said first mentioned arm with said straps extending around the other side of said body whereby said strap can move relatively to said means so that the position of said bight relative to the ends of said strap may vary with the movement of the wearers body.

12. The structure set forth in claim 11 and a third strap adjustably secured to said rst mentioned member so as to be slidable thereon adapted to extend between the legs and along the groin of the wearer and adapted to be secured at its other end to said first mentioned arm.

HILIMAN L. ROE.

Aso 

